Environmental Compliance Inspector Environmental Laws and Regulations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under RCRA, what defines a 'solid waste' that may be subject to hazardous waste regulation?
- Only liquids disposed of in landfills
- Any discarded material including solids, liquids, sludges, and gases in containers (Correct answer)
- Only materials with pH below 2 or above 12.5
- Any material classified as toxic by a state agency
Correct answer: Any discarded material including solids, liquids, sludges, and gases in containers
RCRA defines solid waste broadly to include discarded materials in any physical state—solids, liquids, sludges, or contained gases—not just solid materials.
Question 2: Which section of the Clean Air Act requires states to develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs)?
- Section 110 (Correct answer)
- Section 112
- Section 129
- Section 182
Correct answer: Section 110
Section 110 of the Clean Air Act requires each state to develop a SIP demonstrating how it will achieve and maintain NAAQS within its borders.
Question 3: The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313 requires facilities to report releases of listed chemicals through which mechanism?
- Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs)
- Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reports (Correct answer)
- National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs)
- Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans
Correct answer: Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reports
EPCRA Section 313 established the Toxic Release Inventory, which requires covered facilities to annually report releases and transfers of listed toxic chemicals.
Question 4: Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, what is the purpose of a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)?
- It is the enforceable limit set for public water systems
- It is a non-enforceable health-based goal at which no known health risk occurs (Correct answer)
- It sets the treatment technology required for each contaminant
- It defines the detection limit for laboratory analysis
Correct answer: It is a non-enforceable health-based goal at which no known health risk occurs
MCLGs are non-enforceable public health goals set at levels where no known or anticipated adverse health effects occur, with an adequate margin of safety.
Question 5: Which federal law governs the cleanup of contaminated sites by potentially responsible parties (PRPs) and established the 'polluter pays' principle?
- RCRA
- CERCLA (Correct answer)
- TSCA
- NEPA
Correct answer: CERCLA
CERCLA (Superfund) established strict, joint and several liability for PRPs and created the framework to compel polluters to pay for contaminated site cleanup.
Question 6: Under the Clean Water Act, a point source discharger must obtain what type of permit?
- Title V Operating Permit
- NPDES Permit (Correct answer)
- RCRA Facility Permit
- UIC Permit
Correct answer: NPDES Permit
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program under the Clean Water Act regulates pollutant discharges from point sources to waters of the US.
Question 7: The Endangered Species Act requires federal agencies to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when a proposed action may affect listed species. This process is known as:
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Section 7 Consultation (Correct answer)
- Biological Assessment Review
- Critical Habitat Designation
Correct answer: Section 7 Consultation
Section 7 of the ESA mandates that federal agencies consult with USFWS or NMFS to ensure their actions are not likely to jeopardize listed species or destroy critical habitat.
Environmental Compliance Inspector Environmental Laws and Regulations 2
Under RCRA, what defines a 'solid waste' that may be subject to hazardous waste regulation?